He warned many families faced a choice between eating and heating their home because of the “unbelievable” increases.

British Gas confirmed it planned to hike gas and electricity tariffs by six per cent from next month – taking average annual dual fuel bills up by around £80 to £1,318.

The pre-winter increase came just months after the company announced a 23 per cent leap in half-year profits at its residential arm to £345 million.

And rival SSE, which trades as Southern Electric, Swalec and Scottish Hydro, is due to increase tariffs by nine per cent on average on Monday, hitting about five million electricity customers and 3.4 million gas customers.

Mr McCabe, who organised an event in Kings Heath to help consumers keep their energy costs down, said: “Many in Birmingham face a choice this winter between heating and eating.

“Ofgem needs to grow a backbone and intervene to protect the poorest energy customers – especially pensioners and families suffering the effects of fuel poverty.

“It is unbelievable that energy bills are set to rise over and above the rate of inflation while wages and pensions stagnate.”

Unions and consumer groups angrily attacked British Gas and called on the Government to take urgent action to tackle rising fuel prices.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “With winter approaching, low-waged people will be terrified about how they are going to find another £80.

“Money from the poor is going to the pockets of shareholders. This is further shameful abuse by out of control, greedy fuel companies, sitting on piles of profit.

“Alongside the Government’s punish the poor strategy, millions of households will be forced further and further down the path to poverty.

“It is time the Government intervened to take back from these grasping companies. Why is it that when wholesale fuel prices go up, these companies take from customers, yet, when wholesale prices go down, they still take from customers?”